London could be in the midst of its fifth heatwave on Tuesday as the capital remains under an amber heat health alert. Temperatures are set to hit 28C by midday, with plenty of sunny intervals throughout the day, according to the Met Office.
Forecast and Heatwave Criteria
There could be some clouds over the capital, with the sunshine turning hazy into the afternoon. But overall, the forecast suggests another dry, but humid day for Londoners. If the mercury exceeds 28C on Tuesday, as is forecast, London will officially be amidst its fifth heatwave of the year.
A heatwave is declared when there is a period of at least three consecutive days where the daily maximum temperature reaches or exceeds a certain threshold, which in London is 28C.
Recent Temperatures and Health Alert
On Sunday, temperatures hit a peak of 28.6C in parts of London, while a reading of 30.7C was recorded in Northolt by midday on Monday. An amber heat health alert remains in place until Wednesday at 9am when the temperature is expected to drop to a maximum of 25C.
The amber alert means significant impacts are likely across health and social care services due to the high temperatures, including a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions.
Drought and Water Restrictions
The Met Office declared on Friday that England and Wales experienced its driest July since records began, while London is currently experiencing its worst drought in decades. Experts warn that much-needed rainfall may not arrive in the UK until October.
Parts of the capital such as Heathrow have gone as long as 41 days without a downpour, tracking back to June 23. Such conditions have heightened wildfire risk, led to water shortages and seen around 23 million people across the UK placed under a hosepipe ban.
